Shloka 15

Śrāddha Vidhi: Kāla (Timing), Pātra (Recipient), and Karma (Procedure) for Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and Piṇḍa

Devanagari script

यवार्थस्तु तिलैः कार्यः कुर्यादर्घ्यादि पूर्ववत् / दत्त्वार्घ्यं संस्त्रवांस्तेषां पात्रे कृत्वा विधानतः

Transliteration

yavārthastu tilaiḥ kāryaḥ kuryādarghyādi pūrvavat / dattvārghyaṃ saṃstravāṃsteṣāṃ pātre kṛtvā vidhānataḥ

Translation

Doch anstelle von Gerste verwende man Sesam; und man vollziehe die Darbringung des arghya und die übrigen Riten wie zuvor. Nachdem man das arghya dargebracht hat, sammle man gemäß Vorschrift die abfließenden Reste der Gaben in einem Gefäß.

Word by Word

• यवार्थः: the purpose/rite with barley
• यवार्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष (यवानाम् अर्थः/यवस्य अर्थः)

• तु: but; and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• कार्यः: should be done
• कार्यः: Kriya (Predicate necessity/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (singular) — ‘to be done’

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• अर्घ्यादि: arghya and the rest (offerings)
• अर्घ्यादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (singular); ‘अर्घ्यं च आदिः’ इत्यर्थे (ādi as suffix-like)

• पूर्ववत्: as previously
• पूर्ववत्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘as before’

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• संस्त्रवान्: streams/flowing libations (drippings)
• संस्त्रवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्त्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• तेषाम्: of them (ancestors)
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• पात्रे: in the vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (singular)

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• विधानतः: according to prescription
• विधानतः: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधानतः (अव्यय; विधान + तस्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb) — ‘according to rule’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During arghya and subsequent śrāddha upacāras

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Substitution (yava → tilā) within vidhi shows dharma’s rule-governed flexibility; remnants (ucchiṣṭa/śeṣa) are to be handled per injunction.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with niyama and saṃskāra refines intention and reduces negligence (pramāda).

Application: Use sesame in place of barley for the specified step; perform arghya and related acts as earlier; gather the flowing remnants into a dedicated vessel according to procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: śrāddha-ritual area with offering vessels

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.99: tilā usage and arghya sequence in śrāddha

FAQs

What is the importance of sesame (til) in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse instructs that sesame can be used in place of barley, indicating til’s accepted ritual potency for arghya and allied śrāddha-style observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that correct post-death rites (like arghya and associated procedures) are part of the dharmic supports offered to the departed and ancestral line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional remembrance or śrāddha-style observances, follow established procedure; if barley is unavailable or the rite specifies, sesame may be used while keeping the method consistent and disciplined.